"Hard drive brands we use can be either Maxtor, Seagate or Samsung, the prices and stock availability fluctuate regularly, therefore we cannot stick to one make or guarantee that a certain brand will be used."

CPU cooler: OCZ vendetta 2 or XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 better for similar $$
Memory: Should look for a 4GB kit and PC2-6400/DDR2-800 since the 6600 overclocks to 3.0 on stock voltage with just 9x333 (someone may correct the speed for me here)
Optical drive:Unless you intend to use the computer to watch blue ray media or backing up more then 8GB at a time it's not particularly useful just now. $20 dvd rw would work here.
Video: A 4850 does great for a budget build.

Are you putting this together or having it built with limited options to tweak things?

Total $1797 + Tax imho a far better System utilizing the most current Technology (I7) and only an additional $400 if its in your budget. If you did decide to go this route, you may want to consider 6GB Tri Channel Kit Memory.
As for the Warranty - most components are 5 yr to Lifetime Warranties. Labour your on your own, but really, if you're not into the build yourself, a reptable PC shop could build for you and it should be very rerasonable.

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Introducing me n my OCD to Watercooling, is like taking an Alcoholic to an "all you can drink" Beach Bar in Mexico

Hi guys thnx for your thoughts. to answer your questions im using 32-bit XP SP3 and not puttin it together myself. Build is included in my original price. Ive stuck a blu ray drive in there to make my system a little more future proof? Although ive taken your thoughts on board and i guess they are quite expensive at the moment so may scrap it. I may use stock cooler now from your responses, as i have no other choice. The website putting it together for me only gave me 2 choices, stock or thermaltake.

Lastly concerning the i7 system, ive been looking around for like a month now trying to make the smartest decision for a new computer and i7 right now just isnt value for money. Its really expensive and immature at the moment, the motherboards for example are overpriced and i would need confirmation that X58 would support Westmere in the future for me to even consider going down that route(i dont upgrade often). I see it as, LGA775 being a mature platform adding value for money (look at memory prices) and still offering decent performance. Im upgrading from Socket A so anything would be an upgrade, but i do see your point as the system im looking at is not far off a very decent i7 system!

But, i will only be purchasing this new system mid january when prices have calmed down a little so i thank u for your thoughts on heat sinks, blu ray etc, as i may be able to put together a system of my exact specs. Oh and the reason ive only got 2gb of memory in there is because it was either 4 gb of 800mhz or 2gb of 1066mhz memory for the same price, so i thought id start off with the faster memory at 2gb and then buy another 2gb in the future when needed? Bare in mind im not an overclocker so i wont be touching my hardware much.